Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
- Trappe Shot to start Travers Day; race uncertain
- Big Drama arrives for A.G. Vanderbilt start
- Fields coming together for Hall of Fame, Sword Dancer, Adirondack Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trappe Shot, second to Lookin At Lucky in the Grade 1 Haskell, will make his next start at Saratoga Race Course on August 28, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Wednesday.
"We do know, if everything goes well, that he will run on August 28," said the trainer. "What we don't know yet is what race he will run in."
The two choices for the 3-year-old Tapit colt are the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers at 1 ¼ miles or the Grade 1, $250,000 King's Bishop at seven furlongs.
"I was very happy with his race against Lookin At Lucky, who was the champion 2-year-old colt and probably will be the champion 3-year-old colt," said McLaughlin. "Now we have a choice between facing Discreetly Mine in the King's Bishop, or running 1 ¼ miles.
"It's a jump ball – both are Grade 1 races and very important races as a stallion. Fortunately we are in a position to be able to make that kind of choice, and we don't have to make it right away."
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Big Drama, expected to make his next start in Sunday's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, arrived at the Saratoga Stakes barn Wednesday morning, taking up residence just down the shedrow from Mambo Meister, also expected for the Vanderbilt. Big Drama defeated Mambo Meister in the most recent start for both horses, the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder on July 10, a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
"He shipped well and he looks good," said David Fawkes, who trains Big Drama for Harold Queen.
The Smile Sprint was Big Drama's second start after a nearly 10-month layoff. In his first start, the June 12 Ponche Handicap, Big Drama chased pacesetter Rusty Charlie through a quarter mile before taking the lead and drawing off to win by 3 ¾ lengths.
"He just does everything so easy," said Fawkes. "When he works, it looks like he's just crawling around out there and then you look at your watch and you're sure you've caught the wrong pole.
"Getting the Win and You're In race the last time, we wanted to make a bit of a plan, and [The Vanderbilt] has been on our radar screen for awhile."
Fawkes added that Big Drama would train before the break Thursday at approximately 7 a.m.
Also expected for the Vanderbilt are Bribon, Gayego, Majesticperfection, Smokey Fire and Temecula Creek.
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The Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, set to be held Friday, August 13, will be led by Interactif, who won last year's Grade 3 With Anticipation at the Spa and has never finished outside the trifecta in five starts on the turf. According to The New York Racing Association, Inc.'s (NYRA) stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, the race is also expected to draw Grand Rapport, who won an allowance race at Monmouth Park in his most recent start; Krypton, victor of the Grade 3 Hill Prince in May; Nordic Truce, a two-time stakes winner who was second in the Hill Prince; and Paris Vegas, who invades from Europe. Alcomatch is possible.
Telling will attempt to defend his title in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational when he heads postward on Saturday, August 14. Lining up in opposition will be Grand Couturier, who won this race in 2007 and 2008 and will try to become the first horse to win this race three times; dual Grade 1 winner Take the Points; Al Khali, who captured the Grade 3 Saranac at the Spa a year ago; last year's Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational hero Interpatation; and Grade 3 Pan American winner Bearpath. Expansion, Marlang, Marsh Side, and
The Grade 2 Adirondack on Sunday, August 15, is expected to draw a competitive group of 2-year-old fillies. Probable for the race are Because I Like It, second in a stakes at Calder Race Course; Mis Vizcaya, an easy winner of a Delaware Park allowance; Nina Fever, fifth in the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile; and maiden winners Dream, Golden Phoenix, Miss Sarah Brown, Position Limit, and Silvislip. A Z Warrior, Alienation, and Tristanme are possible.
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